4 Ways You Benefit from Practicing Mindfulness
Everyone seemed to benefit from practicing mindfulness these days. Perhaps many practiced it because of the hype. But can you truly benefit from being mindful? Are there any scientific results that can prove that practicing mindfulness works?
How You Benefit From Practicing Mindfulness
Our lives are composed of daily stressors, and we cannot avoid them. However, if you practice mindfulness, you are saving yourself from feeling the strains of stress. Practicing mindfulness has plenty of benefits, here’s how:
1. Decreases pain, stress, and anxiety
Studies show how mindfulness has benefited people suffering from anxiety, stress, and pain. It states that mindfulness can elevate feelings of depression by improving emotion regulation to handle mood and focus better [1]. Even psychotherapists recommend practicing mindfulness as an essential part of treating various mental health problems like:
- Substance abuse
- Eating disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Couples’ conflicts
Therefore, practicing this meditation can help people disengage from emotionally upsetting situations and help them focus better on a task.
2. Heals your physical health
Practicing these techniques does not only help your mental health but your physical well-being as well. Mindfulness can help relieve stress and lower blood pressure. And because you are mindful of your ways, you know what is good for your health.
When a stressful situation arises, you can keep yourself composed. Through breathing exercises and meditation, mindfulness can also help lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, elevate gastrointestinal problems, and improve sleep.
3. Improves your general well-being
Practicing mindfulness makes it easier for you to enjoy the best things in life. It also helps you become fully engaged at the moment, and by focusing on the now, you are less likely to worry about the future. You also become less preoccupied with other concerns, so you form deeper connections with other people. Researchers also found that mindfulness helps you lose weight, improve eating behaviors, and decrease depressive symptoms.
4. Helps your relationships
Your ability to be mindful can predict how your relationships can go. Knowing how to respond to the stresses you experienced in relationships, you can communicate your emotions better. Being mindful protects you from any emotional conflict that you may encounter with your partner. Because of this, you can predict relationship satisfaction in different situations.
Why Should You Practice Mindfulness?
It is easy to get lost in a trance in the middle of doing something. It’s like your body is on autopilot, and no one is at the driver’s seat. Strange, right? When you are mindful, you become aware of the present situation. You become in tune with yourself and your surroundings.
Mindfulness helps you to be in the moment and keeps your mind from wandering and worrying. It reduces overthinking. That said, practicing mindfulness is a must.
So how can you practice this? You don’t need to do extravagant things to do this. You can begin by practicing these [2]:
Pay attention – one of the easiest and hardest things to do is to pay attention. But if you want to learn about mindfulness, this is the first step that you can take. You involve your senses – hearing, touching, tasting, smelling, and seeing when you pay attention. For example, you pay attention to the food you are eating.
Practice mindfulness when you’re enjoying the taste, the smell, and even seeing your favorite food. If you pay attention, you are already practicing mindfulness. Make it a habit.
Focus on your breathing – another good way to practice mindfulness is to practice breathing exercises. When your mind is clouded with negative thoughts, refocus. Find a space where you can sit still and focus on your breath. Take note of how your breath goes in and out as you keep your eyes closed. Practicing this technique will not only teach you to be calm but also be mindful of yourself and your body.
Enjoy the moment – mindfulness is all about being aware of the moment. When you are open and accepting of everything you do, you notice that even the littlest things bring you joy. It does not have to be spectacular; it could be as simple as finding a penny or seeing pretty flowers – when you enjoy the moment, you open yourself to many possibilities.
Love yourself – It may sound cliche, but loving and accepting yourself is an essential element to being mindful. Treat yourself like you would a friend. If you love yourself more, you appreciate life better. You do things to keep yourself happy. You mind your ways, and you enjoy the time spent with friends and family. When you love yourself, you do something to keep yourself happy and healthy.
Your Takeaway
Aim to practice mindfulness every day. Over time you will see that it will become effortless. Think of it as a pledge to better yourself. Once you do, it is easier to reconnect and nurture yourself and the people around you.
